Colombian pop star Shakira shook Phoenix from the mayor's office to the barrio, blasting Arizona's new racial profiling law SB 1070 as promoting "discrimination" and "division," and contrary to the American values she said she admires.

"I'm not an expert on the [U.S.] Constitution," she told the throng of reporters present at City Hall. "But I know that the Constitution exists for a reason. It exists to protect human beings. To protect the rights of people living in a nation, with or without documents. We're talking about human beings here."

The crush of press at the Shakira event at City Hall

That
actually is correct, despite what many nativist hatemongers would have
you believe. Though the undocumented do not enjoy all of the rights and
privileges of citizens, obviously, they are still protected by certain
Constitutional safeguards, as well as by international standards of
human rights.

Shakira also spoke of the contributions of Latino
immigrants to the greatness of the country, specifically to its
economic well-being.

"It is a misconception that Latino
immigrants take away employment opportunities and go against the
economics of this country," she said. "On the contrary, Latino
immigrants help generate more employment opportunities."

She asserted that American companies "count on the Latino working
force" to keep them competitive in the global marketplace, because "the
Latino worker has a strong work ethic, works long hours...and [has] competitive work wages."

All in all, I was impressed by her
speech, prepared though it obviously was ahead of time. She did not
take questions, however, which was a disappointment.

Later she stopped by Chicanos Por La Causa's Carl Hayden Youth Center
near 32nd Avenue and Van Buren Street, and spoke with women and
children who have suffered discrimination, abuse, and terror at the
hands of local authorities, specifically Sheriff Joe Arpaio's deputies,
who were doing a sweep of the West Valley, even as Shakira was visiting Phoenix.

At the press event at his offices, Mayor Gordon
spoke of the lawsuit against SB 1070 he was pursuing with private
finds, some of which are being provided by Arizona Employers for
Immigration Reform. Gordon said he was starting a new group called
Arizonans for Common Sense, which would take donations to support the
lawsuit. He encouraged people to contact his office if they wanted to
help.

Gordon also said that his office had been the
target of a threat recently. He read from it for the
reporters.

"Traitor to Arizona and America," said the handbill. "You
politicians care more about the welfare of foreign nationals than the
safety and the jobs and the future of your own citizens. That's
treason. Each of you should be arrested tried in court, found guilty of
treason and hanged from the nearest tree. Death to traitors."

Commented
Gordon, "This is America, this is Arizona, this is 2010. We're not
going backwards, we need to go forward. We will fight this."

Gordon also urged people "not to boycott" Arizona or Phoenix. "Only harm can come from a boycott," he claimed.

I
disagree with him on that point, even while I admire his stance on
Arizona's hateful new law. Good can come of a boycott, and as I laid
out in my Bird column this week, Arizona's Martin Luther King, Jr.
holiday is proof of that.

Tags:

Shakira is not only arguably the most talented rock and roll artist in the world, but is a great humanitarian, and is a bigtime mover and shaker, Shakira is close personal friends with people like Carlos Sims, the richest man in the world, Warren and Howard Buffet, the president of the world bank, president Obama, many powerful members of congress and most major world leaders. I am glad that Shakira came to Arizona to speak out against SB 1070. If this law goes into effect, tax payer dollars will be spent to lock up illegals, for up to 6 months in county jails, when they should be handed over to ICE, immediately, for deportation. It would also have the potential of locking up U.S.citizens in Arizona, if they are not carrying proper ID on them. If you do a little research on SB 1070, you may agree with Shakira. Shakira is right about SB1070, just like she is on most political issues.

Bobby, If you think Shakira has 0 influence on Americans, you could not be more wrong. Shakira has just been apointed by president Obama to serve in President Obama's cabinet in the Department Of Education, and the DNC is trying to get her to become an American citizen and run for congress. Shakira has been a resident of Florida for many years, and many political consultants admit that if Shakira became a U.S. resident and ran for any political office, in the U.S. she would probably win.